(July 31st, 2011 www.cfidsreport.com)
Research efforts involving chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may
recieve a boost in coming years, as a new effort to define the
illness will soon be published in the July edition of the Journal of
Internal Medicine. The new definition was created
by a panel of the world's leading clinicians and scientists.
Collectively, the panel boasts 400 years of experience with CFS,
treating over 50,000 patients.

The effort to create a new definition was prompted by concern
about the effects of general term "fatigue syndrome", as well as
recent research demonstrating flaws of past definitions.
Widespread agreement exists that past definitions for CFS "do not
select homogenous sets of patients". To alleviate these concerns,
the new definition will narrow the selection criteria for CFS,
focusing on four distinct symptom classifications.

Four criteria are set by the new definition:

1. Post-Exertional Exhaustion and
prolonged recovery time after activity. This category requires at
least a 50% reduction in activity levels and it is the only
compulsory requirement.

2. Neurological Impairments. Patient will have one
symptom from three of four categories: neurocognitive impairment,
pain, sleep disturbance, and motor disturbances.

3. Immune and Gastrointestinal Impairments. The
patient must have one of three of the five categories:
flu-like symptoms, prolonged recovery from viral illness,
gastro-intestinal or nausea, food or chemical sensitivity, and
genitourinary symptoms.

4. Energy Production and Cardiovascular. Patient must
have one of four categories of orthostatic intolerance, respiratory
symptoms, poor regulation of body temperature, and intolerance of
temperature extremes are the categories.

The authors contend that the new criteria -- Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis: International Consensus Criteria -- are supported
by research. The definition's authors cite over 100 papers that
support the biological areas of emphasis contained in the
definition. In particular, a study of over 2500 patients with CFS
was conducted to determine which symptoms are most unique to the
illness.